OK even the Duke was in a few clunkers...what would be your pick of the worst John Wayne film you have seen? Exclude B movies in your selection...for instance start in 1939 and pick anything thereafter and indicate why.

My pick is...

Hellfighters

because this film just never had any direction as to where it was going, the plot stunk, the acting was cheesy, and it just didn't do anything for me.

GSP

Sorry I disagree :angry:

I really enjoyed "The Hellfighters" :rolleyes:

I would say the supporting female cast in "Rio Lobo" really stank :blink: The women in the town at the end of the movie had no acting ability, It looks like they were reading from cue cards :angry: The Duke did very well :rolleyes:

So I would pick "The Conqueror" It just wasn't the Duke :huh:

Monique ;)

hi,
I agree with The Qonquer, I recorded the movie on VHS and showed It to my grandfather because he's also an Dukefan, and he didn't want to see the end of the movie, because It was not the John Wayne as we now him in the movie.
The movie is not so bad, but It is not an role for John Wayne as Djenghis Khan he can better play westerns and warmovies.

Another bad movie of The Duke is Big Jim McLain

cya Jwfan

I too vote for The Conqueror. BTW, I liked Big Jim Mclain and Hellfighters.

"Mrs." Chester here . . . I'm sure Chester will make his own post on this topic later today, but for now . . .

Ah-h-h-h-h . . . opinions! Don't you love 'em?

The Conqueror was just weird, seeing John Wayne in that role - I didn't like it, and maybe because of what seems like a miscasting, I would call it the worst.

Hellfighters - I've never especially liked that one, and the character played by Katherine Ross made me crazy - she was such a brat! The last time we watched it, I actually saw the movie to the end, and it got a little better, but it is definitely not on my "favorites" list.

Big Jim McLain - I really like that movie! I don't have any specific reasons (although the fact that I am not a fan of communism might play a part), I just like it. I especially enjoy the interaction between John Wayne's character and that of Nancy Olson's. Definitely NOT on my list of "Worsts".

Monique, I totally agree with you regarding the female cast in Rio Lobo! Those women are one reason I don't especially care for that movie - interesting plot, but the women ruin the rest of it for me.

BTW, I really enjoy many of the B movies.

Just my opinion . . .

"Mrs." Chester

Hi again :P
For those of you that hate "Big Jim MClain" :(
I ask you to watch it again. Anytime you can get a man as large as the Duke to dance like that :D Nothing is Bad :huh:
"Mrs" Chester Finally someone agrees with me on "Rio Lobo" :D :lol: :D :lol:

Monique ;)

Yes i agree too the female cast in RIO LOBO was very weak when you consider some of the great actresses hes worked with even in his b movies.

I have to agree with "The Conqueror" as the worst Picture.

Brian
Tulalip Wa

Jet Pilot was really bad. No story at all, and I'm not totally sure if there was any plot. The others in the threads above I would agree with except I did like Hellfighters. I know that it wasn't a great movie, but I like it.

Rio Lobo, forget the women, Chris Mitchum was terrible. Can't believe you all forgot him. He was a little better in Big Jake, but not any good to me. And didn't really do much in Chisum. Just didn't like Mitchum in anything at all. Brannigan wasn't that great. And The Train Robbers didn't do much for me either.

Cheers, Hondo B)

Hm-m-m-m-m . . . I come home after working hard all day to find that Mrs. Chester has been playing on the computer . . . :angry:

. . . and she even posted some responses for me . . . (and did a darn good job, too ;) ) . . .

The only two cents worth I might add to this thread is that after making over 150 movies, there are likely to be a few bombs in the bunch. Definitely, The Conqueror was #1 on my all time bad list, and #2 would be The Barbarian and the Geisha. For me, Hellfighters comes in at #3, and Circus World #4, with Brannigan and McQ tied for #5.

There may be others, that I haven't seen, that are pretty bad, but those are the ones I can think of. Still, 5 movies out of 150 is less than 4%, not too bad, huh?

I'll have to agree with Hondo about there not being much of a plot in Jet Pilot, but I have always enjoyed watching those jets flying around among the clouds, and for me, that makes up for the lack of plot.

As for Big Jim McLain, I tend to side with my wife, in that I particularly like the anti-communist aspect of the plot, and it's kind of fun to see 'Matt Dillon' in a suit. B)

Chester

I would have to say that when he played Randy the singing cowboy. It made a joke out of what he was trying to do.

The thing that was unique in the train robbers was the fact that the bad guys were chasing...and they were just shown to be out there moving closer...never ANY dialogue from them...so you didn't know what they were planning or anything...so you were in the same boat as the Duke. They were just out there, and they were coming in. I thought the shootout scene at the old lost train was pretty good.

Not my favorite film, but I wouldn't call it "bad"

GSP

Hi, I have to agree with The Conquerer as the worst followed by The BArbarion and The Geisha, but even if the movie was bad I will watch just to see The Duke. He was never bad in my book just had a few rotten roles.

My choice for his worst film would have to go to a tie between McQ and Brannigan. I didn't like the story in either one. I didn't feel like the Duke was comfortable in the roles. I felt like the characters he played weren't strong enough for him to play them. I have both of them in my collection, but I don't choose them when I'm looking for something to watch.

Wow I have to come to the rescue of Brannigan/McQ here two excellent movies especially Brannigan, give these movies another chance they have stood the test of time well.

Red River in my opinion is one of my favourite movies with some of the worst scenes I have ever witnessed.

The indian attack on the wagons that Clift is involved is is truely dreadful especially with Dru talking the whole time and none of the non Indians getting killed.

John Wayne is gone for too long in my opinion near the end of the movie and although Clift does well as do most of the other actors the film lacks that essential ingrediant ie Duke.

Joanne Dru is awful in all her scenes.

The ending is bad, Dru spoiling things again.

Now onto Dukes worst and it is flame of Barbarry Coast absolute Drivel from start to finish.

In Second position its legend of the lost :huh: why was it made apart from Duke needing finance to film the Alamo

In third place its the undefeated what a bore with no sparkle

And fourth its the Alamo, Duke looked out of place, there are too many silly characters and scenes and the script isnt great either, its also quite boring.

B)

Originally posted by looknodie@Jul 24 2003, 03:02 PM
. . . but even if the movie was bad I will watch just to see The Duke. *He was never bad in my book, just had a few rotten roles.
Now there's a great quote, if ever I've seen one!

I couldn't agree with you more, Nodie. Even in the ones I think are "bad" I sure like watching the Duke. :rolleyes:

Chester

I was suprised to see someone list The Undefeated....not that its a great film, but I felt there were plenty of good action scenes to keep it off this thread.

Maybe others would object, but I didn't partiularly enjoy The Three Godfathers where they depict Wayne smothering a new-born baby with axle grease?!

GSP

Some interesting choices on this. I have to say being a diehard fan that I can't pick a worst film. I like all of them. I do want to say that some of them were rather different roles. I like Brannigan and McQ fine, both solid 70's cop films. As for the Alamo, I love that film and what the Duke was trying to do with it, it did not get the critical acclaim or the Oscar results the Duke was looking for, but I still think it has to be one of his best films ever. The movie that I have to say I like the least would be the Conquerer.

Hi Big Jim,

I didn't start this thread for the purpose of bashing the films...I have watched and will likely watch most of them again...I just thought it would be interesting to see the opinions out there as to the least favorites.

Regards,

GSP

Maybe it's just me but I liked Hellfightersand Big Jim Mclain and could tolerate the Conqeror .For some reason I can't watch Donovan's Reef. What am I missing?

I agree on Donavan's Reef...I couldn't figure out where the plot was going, and when it got there, I didn't know why it was there. The picture was neither fish nor fowl ... not a good comedy, nor a good action film. You do get a good fistfight or two, but I cannot figure out why the picture was made. Clearly the worst John Ford directed Wayne film.

GSP

My wife and I were talking about Donavan's Reef today and thinking about the point of the movie. Actually I like it alot (I don't have to understand a movie to like it) but it seems like a movie put together so Ford and Wayne could use it as a last movie with each other and they reportedly used it as a family vacation for both.

Hello :rolleyes:

"Donovan's Reef" as far as I'm concerned is a classic :P

If you don't get the plot I'm sorry :(

I can think of the movie from beginning to end as I'm typing this :P

And the way I can do that is by going over the plot :rolleyes:

Monique ;)

hi all,

in donovans reef you could think of it as a film showing how some americans show their respect to the inlanders for protecting them and not giving them up to the japs durning the war as the japs did inflict punishment on the islanders who protected them. so at wars end they came back to help the islanders like they were helped.

think about this and see if you can see the thread im talking about then see what you think of the movie.

cheers smokey

Well heres my worst Duke films
The Conquerer
Rio Lobo
The Sea Chase
The Comencheros :wub:

The Comancheros? That is one of my favorites... The dialogue between Wayne and Paul Regret is great.

GSP

I have to agree with the General on the Comancheros. The chemistry is good, and it's vintage middle age Duke.

I feel that if John Wayne hadn't made so many bad movies he would not have been the big star that he is. It is a credit to his inner strenght that he could continue making movies a good ones at that after maybe making one ore two etc bad ones in succession.

His 1st big test was the Big Trail I dont know if this movies any good but it was a financial flop and would have broken most men careers had they starred in it instead of the Duke, but then again e know the Duke didnt crumble.

B)

The Big Trail may have been a financial flop, but my wife and I feel it is a pretty good movie, considering its age. I'd recommend getting it, if you can.

Chester

hello :rolleyes:
I really enjoyed "The Big Trail" :unsure: I will continue to get all the VHS and DVD Duke movies I can get my hands on :unsure: I still watch em all even if theirs one I don't really care for B)

Monique ;)

When an actor is looking at a script, they use it with the intentions of being a great film. There are many scripts that are rejected because they are bad. Duke in his bio, John Wayne: American, commented that he turned down probably dozens of scripts because they are not good, before he sees one that he thinks will be good. His intention is to make a better film than his last, and I believe that he thinks that when he makes the picture, it will be his greatest.

Some of the problems are due to poor directing, bad chemistry with the actors, poor editing, weak story line, or even acting not equivalent to what the picture is needed to work out.

Let's face it, The Conqueror is due to Duke not able to play the part in the movie. His acting was bad, very bad. Sorry to say it, but he should have never taken the part, and Duke would agree that he shouldn't have either, according to bio.

Cheers, Hondo B)

The Long Voyage Home, a clunker for John Ford as well.

kid wheeler

There are a wide "bad" selection to choose from but Jet Pilot would be my choice. Mind you Long Voyage Home is like watching paint dry. The old chestnut The Conqueor has a bit of action it a awful script. Barbarian & The Geisha is another clunker.

Barbarian & The Geisha is another clunker.

Wrong, Mike.

You just said that because you know it's one of old Jim's favorites. :wink_smile:

I thought about this subject....then thought better of it! There's quite a few Duke movies I don't care that much for, but as soon as I write about how bad a movie is, someone else is going to tell me how much they like it, then I feel like a jackass!


And I know that many of the movies I enjoy, even some of my favorites, are always found on the "worst of" list, and I couldn't care less about the bad reviews! (When I'm watching a movie...my opinion is the only one that counts!!!) :evilgrin:

This is not a Duke movie, but he was momentarily in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" - which it certainly was not.
The director - George Stevens - padded in a plethora of guest stars to jolt audiences awake from watching a slow moving Hallmark Christmas card and JW was one of the last in the mix. Truly a chore to watch even in widescreen.


We deal in lead, friend.

Wrong, Mike.

You just said that because you know it's one of old Jim's favorites. :wink_smile:


I'll come round and make you watch it again and again and again

This is not a Duke movie, but he was momentarily in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" - which it certainly was not.
The director - George Stevens - padded in a plethora of guest stars to jolt audiences awake from watching a slow moving Hallmark Christmas card and JW was one of the last in the mix. Truly a chore to watch even in widescreen.


We deal in lead, friend.

Truly it is an awful movie. At least Duke had the sense to stay in the shadows and blink and you miss him.

Jet Pilot was Horrible. No.1 clunker with me.

the three worst jw movies for me is
jet pilot
the conquered
the barbarian and the geisha
i dont know what he was thinking of when he nmade the barbarian and the geisha.the worst of the three.

I wish you would not have started out 39 and after because I really do not care for the films he made in the 30's but then I do not care for any of them made back then no matter who starred in them they were HOKEY. But I do realize that is where JW learned his craft so they were necessary. I agree the Genghis Khan Movie was poor type casting and I never cared for that treasure hunting move he made either.

HOKEY!! I like that! Haven't herd that in a while!

1939 was the greatest year in movie making after all we got Stagecoach that year, wizard of oz,gone with the wind and many many classics but anyone portraying the duke as an asian drives me crazy those were his worst.

I never cared for the Dukes early movies Stagecoach was his first one that he was starting to mature as an actor. That said the early ones were needed for him to mature into that actor.

While I agree that the pre-Stagecoach Waynes were where he learned "not to bump into the furniture" (to quote another actor), I generally avoid them. Much as I love the Duke, though, many of his later movies, especially The Train Robbers, McQ (great gun, though) and Brannigan, for example, are embarrassing.

But I must admit to guilty pleasures such as The Conquerer and Jet Pilot. Lighten up, folks. How can you not love a movie where the star is bigger than his horse and has dialogue like "Yer Beyootiful in Yer Wrath". Or a movie where whenever Janet Leigh shows up in her notoriously form-fitting flight suit, a jet streaks loudly in the soundtrack and makes an almost lewd noise. Blame not the Duke; that's Howard Hughes.

I'll also back Big Jim McLain as being a product of its time and a not unreasonable representation of the Duke's beliefs then and later (with neither support nor criticism expressed or implied).

And one last bit of support in this thread devoted to worst JW films. I personally find The Barbarian and the Geisha an interesting effort, though certainly not a typical JW film. If anyone knows, I'd love some details as to how he came to make it.

kid wheeler